Atty. Gregory Acciardo was convicted of organized crime
related felony charges and was sentenced to 3 years in prison in
1998 (see Providence Journal, January 25,1998, page B-01).
The Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board,
which is charged with enforcing the rules of professional conduct
which all attorney's are bound by, has always suspended attorneys
from the practice of law during the pendency of their appeal.
[Examples: John Quatrocchi, Richard Tallo, Frank Matera, Gerald
Poulliot]. Yet the Supreme Court's
Disciplinary Board has allowed Atty. Gregory Acciardo to
continue practicing law pending his appeal. [State v.
Acciardo case number 98-429. The case is down for oral
argument Feb. 7, 2000.] Apparently Atty. Acciardo is
the first and only convicted felon sentenced to a prison term who
has not been disciplined or suspended pending an
appeal.

Note: Caught called the Rhode Island Bar to verify this
and was told Atty. Acciardo was on "limited practice." When
asked what this meant, Caught was told to call the RI Supreme Court. Caught called the RI
Supreme Court and was told that Atty. Acciardo was NOT on limited
practice and was fully practicing law.

On January 13, 1994 this Court appointed Nancy A. Palmisciano,
Esquire, as Special Master to take possession of Don G. Sinesi,
Jr.'s client files and client accounts, to inventory them, and to
take whatever steps were necessary to protect the clients'
interests. In that capacity, the special master came into
possession of the sum of twenty five thousand ($25,000) dollars,
which she has deposited into an interest bearing account pending a
determination as to the proper claimant entitled to those
funds.

On December 2, 1998, Gregory J. Acciardo, Esquire, filed a Motion
to Return Personal Property with this Court, claiming entitlement
to those funds and requesting the court enter an order directing
the special master to deliver those funds to him. On December 18,
1998, the special master filed her Final Report with this Court,
detailing her activities as special master and, inter alia,
disputing Acciardo's claim of entitlement.

Upon review of the claim of Acciardo and review of the Final Report
of the Special Master, we deem it appropriate that determination of
entitlement to the funds presently in the possession of the special
master should be made as a result of an evidentiary hearing before
a court of competent jurisdiction. Accordingly, we hereby instruct
and order the special master to deposit the funds in her possession
into the Registry of the Superior Court pending a determination by
that court of entitlement to those funds.

Additionally, having reviewed the Final Report of the Special
Master, this Court finds that report acceptable. We approve the
special master's request for counsel fee in the amount of ten
thousand ($10,000) dollars and direct that payment in that amount
be made to the special master from the Supreme Court Disciplinary
Account. To the extent that the Superior Court deems the special
master entitled to a portion of the proceeds presently in her
possession, the Supreme Court Disciplinary Account shall have a
right of subrogation to the amount hereby paid to the special
master.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Many times the reason or purpose for events in our life initially escapes us,but I am certain we can find reason and/or purpose in everything that happens!

It takes a short time to learn to exercise power, but a lifetime to learn how to avoid abusing it.

We are no longer a country of laws, we are a country where laws are "creatively interpreted."